Clippers Lose No. 50 Despite Harper Heroics

The Clipper home season did not go quietly into the night Friday, but go it did, as have so many before.

It was a close game, but another defeat, the 10th time they have lost by three or fewer points, more than any other team. The Golden State Warriors did the honors this time, surviving 40 points, a career-high 17 rebounds and a last-second shot by Ron Harper to win, 114-113, at the Sports Arena and hand the Clippers their eighth consecutive 50-loss season.

It also means that the Clippers (31-50), who close the season Sunday in Sacramento, won’t break the record for victories since the move to Los Angeles seven seasons ago. Thirty-two, won in 1985-86, will stand for at least another year, as will the franchise as a whole.

“I think the only really pleasing fact is our winning record at home,” Coach Mike Schuler said. “I don’t think you will overhear me say after Sunday that I’ve been real pleased with the season. I just don’t feel that way.”

Harper’s three-point shot at the buzzer would have helped matters. But Harper, controlling a back-tip from teammate Jeff Martin off a jump ball, hit the front of rim.

The Clippers opened an early 10-point cushion, 22-12, as Charles Smith scored 14 points in the first quarter, but the Warriors, with Coach Don Nelson substituting liberally, caught up at 48-48 on Tyrone Hill’s rebound layup with 2:17 left in the first half.

Golden State, which will play the Midwest Division champion when the playoffs open late next week, pushed its lead to 76-67 in the third quarter. Then it was the Clippers’ turn to cut the deficit, getting within 85-83 before Alton Lister made two free throws to give the Warriors a four-point advantage heading into the final 12 minutes.

Clipper Notes

Gary Grant, bothered by swelling and minor pain around the incisions from his recent arthroscopic surgery, did not dress and will also skip Sunday afternoon’s season finale. There are no thoughts of a quick activation from the injured list of Bo Kimble . . . Ron Harper said his growing emphasis on outside shooting at the expense of the drives that made him one of the most explosive players in the NBA was not a temporary thing as he worked back from knee surgery. “I’ll definitely rely on the jump shot now more in my career,” he said. “I figure at this stage, I know when to take it to the basket and when to use the jump shot.” . . . The announced crowd of 14,771 enabled the Clippers to set a franchise record for attendance of 522,104.